Starbucks to Host Free Concert Series in New York

Building upon the heritage and intimacy of the traditional coffeehouse, Starbucks Salon opens today in New York City for a 10-day series of engaging performances Starbucks selected New York during Fashion Week as the venue for the latest installment of Starbucks Salon, a nomadic coffee house, performance venue, and gallery.

"Our goal is to bring together diverse groups of artists to provoke thought and discussion among culturally-curious audiences and thought leaders, in a traditional coffeehouse setting," says Anne Saunders, senior vice president of global brand strategies and communications at Starbucks. "We have an amazing line-up of talent for Starbucks Salon that we hope New Yorkers will enjoy discovering as much as we have."

Launched earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Starbucks Salon is designed as a place for an interactive exchange of ideas and entertainment forms. In an effort to modernize the traditional role of the coffeehouse, the temporary performance venue will emerge at cultural events and gatherings to celebrate budding artists, art forms, and established talent yearning to explore new artistic disciplines.

Artists confirmed to perform at Starbucks Salon in New York include: Joi Cardwell, Jim Carroll, House of Diehl, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Jose Gonzalez, Eugene Mirman, and Ursula Rucker.

Presenting each performance are two hosts as distinct as the Starbucks Salon talent they will introduce. Cat Greenleaf is a Lifestyle Contributor to WNBC's Today in New York and is close to the pulse of New York's artistic scene. John Richards is the host of the famed KEXP Morning Show in Seattle and is best known for his ability to discover new talent in the music world.

Starbucks Salon offers the opportunity to experience an inviting, eclectic environment featuring an amazing array of current art, constantly evolving music curated by a host of celebrated DJs, dynamic projected visuals, and free nightly performances. New Yorkers and visitors to the city are encouraged to come by anytime, settle in, and enjoy the surroundings with a cup of coffee.

Starbucks Salon is located at 76 Greene Street in Manhattan and will run from Friday, September 8, through Sunday, September 17, with two to three headline performances each day. The hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with headliners at 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m., with other gallery and experiential happenings throughout the day. All performances are free and open to the public. The complete performance schedule is available at www.StarbucksSalon.com.